The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-14
Editorial 8rtefs.
BY REV. /. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, N. Y.

"oSVolH OuiIdrldn conference, Is what
may be called broad platform. Any body
who would like to see the world improy-
ed but who has no distinct idea of any
method of improvement, could stand on
Mr. Gannett's platform without the slight
est embarrassment. Now we shall see
how many gentlemen who think "char-
acter" is mysterious effiuence of mega
ton will make haste to climb on to
Br Gannetfs platform. We predict that
it will not be necessary to hold On over
flow meeting.
As we have before pointed out, what
Is more wanted by the houseless, home
less multitude whom our gentle apostle
OF freedom in religion" hopes to gath
er I'D, is not more out-of- -doore; they have
too much OF that already, but shelter and
enclosure. The church that makes no
practical difference between fellowship
within and freedom without, will not be
attractive to them. The churches that
stand on definite, if narrow, platforms;
that offer privileges, real or imaginary,
and ask something for them; that an
nounce distinct doctrines and are able
to outline an aggressive policy, are the
churches that will get nine OF these people
for every one that Br. Ganpett welcomes
to his creedless desolation.
That editorial writer in the I3,depend-
ent, who has charge of the defense of the
American Board, and by logical necessity,
of the BUSH ess of disciplining the Andover
Spectators" sheds tear or two over
the want of wisdom in the conductors of
the AndoUer Revieso, which, he seems
grieved to think, may ipjure the good
name and hinder the progress of the
New Orthodoxy. If they would COM
mend this course to their churches and the
public, he suggests that they speak only
the truth, and that in love. This is good
and disinterested, or as he puts it, "ds-
passionate" advice. We hope the edit
ors will try to follow it. For models of
the grace they are counseled to emulate,
let them consult the recent deliverances
OF the Independent, anent Andover.
The Rev. J. L. Douthit's paper, Our
Best Words, devotes number to memo
rial of that good and wise preacher of
truth and practiser of righteousness, the
late VIM. G. Eliot, d. d. The Unitarian
body has produced remarkably large
number of men of distinction. The popular
idea is, that the only chance for distinc-
tion among Unitsrians is through litera-
ry or scholastic attainments, or by some
form of radicalism. This Is a mistake.
The number of Unitarian clergymen who
have gained national reputation through
the beautiful fulflment in themselves of
the spirit and power of minister of
Christ is larger in proportion to the size
of the denomination we think, than in
any other Sect Among these men, IA
nous for manifold self.denying Christian
service, DR.. Eliot holds an honored
place.
The slight criticism to which Mr..
Hamilton Andrews Hill subjects "The
Emancipation of Massachusetts, in the
May AndoUer ReUieac, indicates the ne
cessity that some competent hand should
give that ambitious book thorough over
hauling. Mr.. Adams has fallen into the
once fashionable mode of so writing
history as to make history. Now, history
should not be made by historians. 1t is
their business to record it; with more or
less of art and moral purpose, if they
choose, but with fidelity to truth and to
all the facts. Some clerical historians of
New England have written with strong
party bias. Mr.. Adams has written with
rancor as well Rs bias on the other eide.
The judicial summing up remains to be
given.
Judging from the number of circulars
we receive, and the frequency with which
the apparition of the late Henry Ward
Beecher confronts us in the advertising
columns of our esteemed contemporaries,
the belief is general among publishers
that the great mans bones will make
profitable picking. We observe that the
motives of the projectors of these bio
graphies are uniformly lofty and disin-
terested. They are merely executing
solemn trust or responding to an impera-
tive popular demand. To be sure, they
expect moderate compensation for their
trouble, but their chief reward will be in
the good they expect to do. Well, the
story of the great preachers life can
scarcely fail to be of high and lasting
value to the world-a value not wholly
impaired by the legend, "Sold only by
subscription"
1t is rare triumph of candor over
prepossession, for a man who favors one
policy to report facts which support an
other. We have been having illustra-
tions of this for many years in the statis-
tics supplied from different sources as to
the effect of the Maine law and the Kan
sas and lowe prohibitoFy laws. Now, Be
have a new field for comparison in the
facts furnished by the experiments with
high license. But the figures given by
the respective advocates of these two
methods are widely different. The Zee
ming Post prints some tables which
seem 10 show that high license is a great
improvement on prohibition. But the
prOhibitionists fall foul of them, correct
and revise them, and show that the facts